UPSC Exam Pattern — Prelims, Mains & Interview

How the three stages of the Civil Services Examination work: the papers, marks, duration, marking scheme and how the final rank is decided.

Practise MCQs → See the three stages ↓

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Who Moves Ahead?

If there are1,000vacancies

12,000 – 13,000Called to Mains (about 12–13× vacancies)
2,000Called to Interview (about 2× vacancies)
1,000Vacancies to Fill

Approximate, based on the usual shortlisting ratios. Drag the slider to try another number.

Plan of Examination

Exam Stages at a Glance

Two written stages, then a personality test. Only the Mains written marks and the Interview marks decide the final rank.

Stage 1Prelims400 Marks2 MCQ PapersScreening Only · Not Counted
→
Stage 2Mains1750 Marks9 Written PapersCounted for Merit
→
Stage 3Interview275 MarksPersonality TestCounted for Merit
=
Grand Total2025Mains 1750 + Interview 275

Stage 1 · Screening Only

Preliminary Examination

400 Marks

Prelims is a screening test. Its marks are not counted in the final merit list.

Two objective papers of 200 marks each.
GS Paper I is the merit paper.
GS Paper II (CSAT) is qualifying, with a minimum of 33%.
Duration: 2 hours per paper.
Negative marking: one-third of the marks for a question is deducted for each wrong answer.
Medium: bilingual (Hindi and English).

2Objective Papers
2 hrsPer Paper
−1/3Per Wrong Answer

Negative Marking Calculator

100 questions · 2 marks each · −0.66 per wrong answer

Correct Answers 60 Wrong Answers 20

Left Blank: 20

Your Score106.80Out of 200

Lost to Negative Marking−13.20

Stage 2 · Counted for Merit

Civil Services Mains Examination

1750 Marks

A conventional, essay-type written examination that tests academic ability and the ability to present answers within a time limit.

9 papers in all.
The papers on Indian languages and English (Paper A and paper B) will be of Matriculation or equivalent standard and will be of qualifying nature. The marks obtained in these papers will not be counted for ranking.
Papers I–VII are counted for ranking.
Duration: 3 hours per paper.
Answers can be written in any Eighth Schedule language or in English, except in the language papers.

The 9 Answer Booklets · Tap One

Paper I · Essay · 250 marks · 3 hours · counted for merit

Counted for MeritQualifying (25% Each)

A
Paper A
Compulsory Indian Language
Qualifying
300Marks
B
Paper B
English Language
Qualifying
300Marks
I
Paper I
Essay
Counted for Merit
250Marks
II
Paper II
General Studies I — Indian Heritage, Culture, History & Geography
Counted for Merit
250Marks
III
Paper III
General Studies II — Governance, Polity, Social Justice & IR
Counted for Merit
250Marks
IV
Paper IV
General Studies III — Technology, Economy, Environment, Security
Counted for Merit
250Marks
V
Paper V
General Studies IV — Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude
Counted for Merit
250Marks
VI
Paper VI
Optional Subject — Paper 1
Counted for Merit
250Marks
VII
Paper VII
Optional Subject — Paper 2
Counted for Merit
250Marks
Sub Total (Papers I–VII)1750

Note:

Evaluation of the papers, namely, ‘Essay’, ‘General Studies’ and Optional Subject of all the candidates would be done simultaneously along with evaluation of their qualifying papers on ‘Indian Languages’ and ‘English’. But your Essay, General Studies and Optional papers are counted only if you score at least 25% in Paper A (Indian Language) and at least 25% in Paper B (English).
The paper A on Indian Language will not, however, be compulsory for candidates hailing from the States of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim.
The paper A on Indian Language will not, however, be compulsory for Candidates belonging to Persons with Benchmark Disability (only Hearing Impairment sub-category) provided that they have been granted such exemption from 2nd or 3rd language courses by the concerned education Board/University. The candidate needs to provide an undertaking/self-declaration in this regard in order to claim such an exemption to the Commission.
Marks obtained by the candidates for the Paper I-VII only will be counted for merit ranking. However, the Commission will have the discretion to fix qualifying marks in any or all of these papers.

Stage 3 · Counted for Merit

Interview / Personality Test

275 Marks

The Personality Test assesses a candidate’s suitability for a career in public service, including personality, communication, judgment and leadership.

275 marks, with no minimum qualifying marks.
Candidates must clear UPSC’s minimum Mains cut-off to be called.
About twice the number of vacancies are called for the Interview.
Interview and Mains marks together decide the rank.

Final Ranking & Selection

How the Final Rank is Determined

1750Mains Written Test
(Papers I–VII)

275Interview /
Personality Test

2025Grand Total

400Prelims MarksNever Included

The final rank is based on Mains written marks and Interview marks.
Services are allotted on the basis of rank and the preferences the candidate has stated.
Prelims marks are never included in the final ranking.

UPSC Syllabus